Amazing What 64 Can Do: Phil's Found His Game And Just Loves The Great English Summer's Dreary Weather

Faced with having to figure out what to do with himself during another dreary English weekend in Lytham where Internet download speeds will hopefully top Scotland's 5kb-a-minute max, Phil Mickelson fired a 64 at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open to leave him five back but very much in contention.

Adding to the leader board intrigue is a resurgent Martin Kaymer, first round leader Francesco Molinari and the budding young Italian, Matteo Mannesero who is tied at -12 with Alexander Noren. And I've arrived here now, so I get to take in the fun! Although I've already seen enough in the town of Inverness to wonder why any pro eligible to play this week would pass up a perfect Open Championship tune up and a chance to win a much revered national championship and a Tour de France-type aura in a sweet, welcoming Scottish town.

An unbylined AP story quotes a suddenly chipper Mickelson, who wowed the crowd with some proper links shotmaking.

Some of his low irons on the par 5s and long par 4s were driven no more than head-high. He also produced some neat bump-and-run approach shots across the undulating links fairways.
He shot an 8-under 64 in the second round to put him in contention for the weekend and was clearly in his element, despite his poor play in his last three tournaments — where he failed to break par or 70 in seven rounds.

"My mindset has really evolved a lot over the last decade or two," Mickelson said. "I've learned to get the ball on the ground quick and that's made playing in the bad weather so much easier because the ground then affects the ball, as opposed to the air.

"That makes it easier to not have the misses be so big. So I've really enjoyed learning a few shots off the tee."